Sunday, July 16, 2006

Northeast Times: “There’s not much you can do with a hole in your chest."

Castor Gardens resident Jeff Campbell recently moved to the 7000 block of Rutland St. The former New Yorker was just getting to know his neighbors.

On Monday night, his small talk turned into whispers of comfort as one of those new acquaintances lay dying in his arms from gunshot wounds.

"I kept him conscious," Campbell said. "He kept going in and out. There’s not much you can do with a hole in your chest."

The neighbor, identified as David Auguayo, 27, was shot to death shortly before midnight during a robbery outside his home. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:10 a.m.

A second victim, who has yet to be identified, was shot in the legs and groin. He was taken to Albert Einstein Hospital and is listed in critical condition, police said.

Witnesses said three black males approached the victims while they were talking on Auguayo’s steps and demanded money, according to Lt. Philip Riehl, of the homicide unit. When Auguayo tried to flee inside his home, a suspect began pistol-whipping him and then fired shots. The suspects fled on foot.

Riehl believes that two handguns were used in the incident, but detectives are unsure if they were automatics or revolvers. No other information was available on the suspects.

Auguayo was one of three people shot to death in the city Monday night. Rutland Street was quiet late Tuesday morning as Campbell and another neighbor, Joseph Rivera, talked outside.

"This is how it is most normal days," Rivera said of the silent street. "There’s no violence on the block. Everybody works."

Rivera said his 2-year-old daughter often played with Auguayo’s young son.

"I was just talking to this guy at six o’clock last night," Rivera said while holding his other young daughter. "I wish I had been outside when it happened. I would have helped."

The violent evening came two weeks after the police department started a new anti-crime unit and less than a week after state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-1st dist.) announced the creation of a task force targeting illegal gun sales.